Short Summary

At the end of the second section of the Monte Carlo rally on Monday (19 January) Sandro Munari of Italy in a Lancia stratos had opened up a wide lead.

Description

At the end of the second section of the Monte Carlo rally on Monday (19 January) Sandro Munari of Italy in a Lancia stratos had opened up a wide lead.

The 4,800 kilometre (3,000 mile) rally started on Saturday (17 January) and will end n Monte Carlo on Friday (23 January).

According to unofficial timings Munari, the winner in 1972 and 1975, had totalled 34 mins. 26 seconds for the two sections, run on steep, narrow roads just over the border in Italy.

This was one minute clear of Jean-Claude Andruet, also a former winner, driving in Alpine Renault A-310.

Bjorn Waldegaard of Sweden was third and Rafael pinto of Italy fourth in the two other woks Lancias.

This year 150 cars started the race from seven points across Europe.

As the race stated on Saturday, heavy snowfalls in the French Alps were hailed with relief by ace organisers as it is generally believed that the race loses a lot of its drama without adverse weather conditions to test both drivers and cars to full capacity.

SYNOPSIS: Fine weather for leading racing divers taking part in the second section of the world famous Monte Carlo rally on Monday as they neared the Italian border.

This year a hundred and fifty cars started from seven points across Europe.

So far the race has proved uneventful but heavy snow that fell on the French Alps on Saturday is expected to present problems for even the most experienced competitors.

The four thousand eight hundred kilometre race is still considered the toughest winter event in the world and finishes in Monte Carlo next Friday.

This yea's field is believed to be the strongest for years and Lancia Ford, Opel, Fiat and Autobianchi have powerful works teams entered.

At the end of the second section Italian Sandro Munari in number ten, a Lancia Stratos, had opened up a wide lead. In second place was Jean-Claude Andruet in car number one.

Bjorn Waldegaard of Sweden in six was in third place and a Rafael Pinto fourth.

Also still in line for racing honours was number fifty seven, Marie-Odile Desvignes, in her Autobianchi A112.